Latin School of Chicago

37 L AT I N S C H O O L O F C H I C A G O "We are all responsible for making our environment supportive and inclusive for everyone within it." Perhaps because he had specifically sought it out, Diaz didn't have any trouble adapting to what he called "Latin's culture of academic excellence, intellectual curiosity and artistic freedom." e adults at Latin, he said, had very clear – and very lofty – expectations for their students, and Diaz found he thrived in that environment. "is was the challenge that attracted me to Latin, and I was eager to see what I might learn – about the world and myself." He found that the school expected the best from its entire community – faculty, staff, families and students alike – and that the burden of promoting success, both academic and personal, fell on everyone. is, Diaz said, created a profound sense of community and taught him a valuable lesson he carries with him today: "We are all responsible for making our environment supportive and inclusive for everyone within it." It wasn't all smooth sailing. "It wasn't always easy, of course," Diaz said, "but you strive to learn from your successes and your stumbles." He has experienced far more successes than stumbles. After graduating from Latin in 1988, Diaz received a journalism degree from the University of Illinois. He flew helicopters as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving for 12 years and earning an M.A. in international relations from Boston University. Now out of the military, Diaz works as a foreign affairs officer in the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., serving as the deputy director of a task force that coordinates international efforts to reduce the global threat from terrorists acquiring shoulder-fired missiles and similar weapons. Diaz lives in Burke, VA, just outside Washington, with his wife, Lisa, and their two children. He is an active and enthusiastic member of Latin's alumni community. n David Diaz and his wife, Lisa, at Scholarship Dinner in March.

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